It may seem that knowing how to drive properly in America is basic knowledge, but that is not the case. Foreign nationals may be unfamiliar with the rules of the road in the States. Some citizens may not be able to afford a driver's education class (or they may be too young to take one yet) but they want to learn how to drive.
Many drivers have other drivers honking at them or are receiving traffic tickets, and they don't know why. The solution for all of these drivers: the Internet. Here are the basic rules for turning and turn signals when driving in America (rules of the road vary by location - this is only a general guide). Obeying the rules will help one avoid being a bad driver.
Turning and Turn Signals
Some points to bear in mind when slowing and turning:
- Drivers should always use turn signals – the signal should be turned on about half a block before the turn in a residential area, and 500 feet before the turn on a highway or a country road.
- Drivers should always use the turn signal before applying the brakes - always. The mnemonic, "Signal, then slow" may help.
- Slowing down should occur before the turn, not in the turn. As a driver turns the steering wheel, he should remove his foot from the brake. For safety purposes, a driver wants power to the wheels in a turn, and pressing the brake prevents that.
- If for some reason a driver questions whether he can make a turn, he should not even try. He should turn off his turn signal while leting off the brake, keep going until he can find a suitable place to turn around, and do so. Then he should come back to the road he needs to take, and make the turn safely. A driver should not press hard or "slam on" his brakes; he should not try to make the turn if he is going too fast. It’s not worth having a crash. The driver might get a traffic ticket, but a traffic ticket is better than a toe tag.
- When coming out of a turn, a driver should use the “grip-and-slip” method to allow the steering wheel to straighten out the vehicle's wheels after the turn. That means allow the steering wheel to slide through the hands, while controlling how fast it slides. The goal is a smooth, fluid motion.
Other Times to Use Turn Signals
The turn signal can also be used to signal the drivers intentions:
- When changing lanes: Drivers should signal before changing lanes, not after, and not while straddling the line between the lanes. The purpose of the turn signal is to let everyone know what the driver is going to do before the driver does it.
- When using a turn lane: A driver should signal, then get into the turn lane, and then put on the brakes. A driver should not slow down before entering the turn lane – that forces every motorist behind that driver to slow down and others shouldn’t have to slow down – that’s why there is a turn lane.
Bearing these points in mind will make for a safer, and more responsible driving attitude, and help to reduce traffic accidents by making sure all road users are aware of the drivers intentions.
